Mariners’ Ryan Bliss starts rehab assignment in Triple-A strong

The Seattle Mariners may have a viable additional option at second base returning soon.

Ryan Bliss began a rehab assignment with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers on Thursday night, marking his first in-game action since suffering a torn left biceps in an April 8 game against the Houston Astros.

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Bliss got off to a great start with the Rainiers, plastering the second pitch he saw from left-hander Jackson Wolf for an RBI double to the gap in left-center at Southwest University Park, home of the El Paso Chihuahuas.

Bliss brings in Thomas in his first AB on rehab and we R on the board! pic.twitter.com/7Yr6YGi4Em

— Tacoma Rainiers (@RainiersLand) August 29, 2025

Bliss, who hit third in the batting order and served as Tacoma’s starting designated hitter, added a sacrifice fly to center field in the sixth inning. He was 1 for 2 with two RBIs in three plate appearances before being lifted in the eighth inning for a pinch-hitter.

The 25-year-old Bliss opened the year as Seattle’s starting second baseman and showed promise in a small sample before his injury. He went 7 for 35 (.200) with a double, a homer, four walks and two stolen bases. At the time of his injury, he was running a six-game hitting streak during which he was slashing .300/.333/.500 for an .833 OPS.

The Mariners acquired Bliss, a 2021 second-round MLB Draft pick out of Auburn by Arizona, in a 2023 trade with the Diamondbacks. He made his MLB debut in 2024, slashing .222/.290/.397 for a .687 OPS with two homers and five steals in 33 games for the M’s.

Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said on Aug. 22 that the team plans to get Bliss 40-50 plate appearances on his rehab assignment.

Rookie Cole Young has served as the Mariners’ primary second baseman since he was called up from Triple-A in late May, but he is currently mired in a 1-for-25 slump and is hitting just .114 over his last 12 games. The Mariners could employ a platoon of the lefty-swinging Young and right-handed Bliss.

It will be a bit easier for the Mariners to activate Bliss once he’s finished his rehab stint as MLB active rosters expand from 26 players to 28 at the beginning of September. However, the Mariners will be down a spot on their roster while outfielder Victor Robles serves a seven-game suspension that will start Friday and end after a series opener in Atlanta on Friday, Sept. 5.

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A rehab assignment for relief pitcher Gregory Santos (knee surgery) with Tacoma is also expected to be imminent.

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